Neighbourhoods across the country are being invited to pull up a chair, share some food and say hello as Street Feast, Ireland’s national weekend of community lunches and gatherings, returns on Saturday and Sunday, May 23rd and 24th 2026. Now in its 16th year, the national weekend has grown into something simple but powerful; a chance for neighbours to come together in a way that makes everyday life feel a little warmer and more connected.
With more people looking for real moments of community, President Catherine Connolly, Patron of Street Feast, is encouraging households everywhere to get involved.
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council is delighted to support this year’s Street Feasts. This wonderful initiative provides neighbours with an opportunity to reconnect, rekindle old friendships, and build new ones. Street Feasts create welcoming spaces for local communities to come together, offering a unique chance for people of all ages to connect, share experiences, and enjoy each other’s company.
Last year, an estimated 88,000 people took part, a 24% rise in hosts*, providing a clear sign of how strongly people value real-world connection.
New research from the Street Feast team shows:
- Participants are twice as likely to know their neighbours well after taking part in a Street Feast.
- 75% of hosts say their area feels friendlier afterwards.
- 43% met neighbours from different cultures or backgrounds for the first time.
These are the kinds of small, everyday interactions that make a difference. A simple shared table, a chat at the end of the street — these are the moments that help turn a place where you live into a place where you feel you belong. Hosting a Street Feast doesn’t require much more than a spot to gather and a willingness to bring people together.
Anyone who registers at StreetFeast.ie will get a free party pack delivered to their door, stocked with bunting, posters, invitations and a DIY guide. There’s also the option to collect a pack from one of 20 participating Tesco stores. These Tesco packs come with all the standard goodies, along with Tesco sample favourites for the table, street chalk and simple games to help break the ice.
Sam Bishop, CoFounder and CEO of Street Feast, said: “At its heart, Street Feast starts with a simple hello. Even as we stay connected online, many of us still don’t know who lives next door. Street Feast creates moments that spark real conversations and genuine connections that last long after the day itself.”
More About Street Feast
Street Feast is a project of Neighbourhood Network, an all-island social enterprise and charity which seeks to promote social inclusion, tackle loneliness and build supportive and resilient neighbourhoods. With growing participation nationwide, Street Feast is an invaluable opportunity to strengthen communities in both urban and rural Ireland. It aligns with national and local government policy on social cohesion, community development, and promoting well-being. By creating more connected, engaged neighbourhoods, they reduce loneliness, support integration and help every community feel like home.
Street Feast is made possible thanks to the generous support of the following campaign partners; the Department of Rural and Community Development; the Local Authorities; Tesco Ireland. https://streetfeast.ie/ https://www.facebook.com/streetfeast https://www.instagram.com/streetfeast/
*Statistics taken from Street Feast’s annual post-event survey is conducted with 150 Street Feast hosts